Effect of planting date of Khomein native pinto bean variety on the population density of Empoasca decipiens and Thrips tabaci and their impact on crop yield indices

In this study, the effect of sowing date of pinto bean (native variety of Khomein) on the control of two important pests, Empoasca decipiens Paoli (Hemiptera.: Cicadellidae) and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and yield components were conducted in the experimental field, during the two crop years. The experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement and two factors: pesticide application (spraying and no spraying with pesticide) and sowing date (early May, late May, and mid-June) four replications. The evaluated traits included pod number per plant, seed number per pod, seed weight per plant, 100-seed weight, seed yield, and damage index. The result showed that the pesticide application factor had no significant effect on yield components in both cropping years, except 100-seed weight in the first year. Also, in the second crop year, spraying against pests significantly reduced the damage index. The results of the analysis of variance showed that sowing date had a significant effect on seed number per plant, seed weight per plant, 100-seed weight, seed yield, and damage index. The highest seed yield, the lowest damage index, and the lowest population density of T. tabaci and E. decipiens were in the third sowing date (mid-June).